Elevator cup



June 28, 1938. c;. E. LINDBURG 2,122,035

ELEVATOR CUP Filed May 13, 1957 C4421; Fowl/v .Lmoawec.

VET 2UP Patented June 28, 1938 UNITED STATES,

ELEVATOR. our

Carl Edwin Lindburg, Moline, Ill., assignor to K. I. Willis Corporation, Moline, 111., a corporation of "Illinois 7 Application May 13, 1937, Serial No. 142,350

' 1 Claim.

This invention relates to elevators such as are employed for conveying and elevating material, such as grain orthe like, and more specifically to an elevator cup having an inclined discharge edge so positioned and arranged with respect to the multi-sectioned bottom of the cup as to facilltate a progressive rapid discharge of material from the cup as the cup travels along the discharging arcof the supporting pulley.

An object of this invention is to provide an elevator cupof improved construction which will enable as well as facilitate progressive discharge of the contents of the cup from the. different angular sections comprising the bottom of the cup.

Another object of this invention is to provide an elevator cup :with an improved discharge edge or margin which, whileat a slight angle to the adjoining bottom section of the cup, forms substantially a 180 angle therewith. l

A further object of the invention is to provide an elevator cup of such construction as to assure proper retention of the material therein during upward travel of the cup, but which, upon the cup reaching the discharging side of the elevator, reduces to a minimum the frictional adherence of the material to the bottom sections 'of the cup, so that the discharge of the material isgreatly facilitated.

In accordance with the general features of this invention, there is provided an elevator cup ineluding spaced ends or sides, a connecting back, and a multi-faced or sectioned bottom having one of its sections disposed at an obtuse angle with respect to the back, and which bottom terminates in an outwardly tapering discharge section substantially alined with the adjoining section-of the bottom.

Another feature of the invention. relates to the arrangement of the plurality of sections of the bottom of the cup, so that the section nearest the back is at an obtuse angle therewith, and the other sections are progressively inclined upwardly so as to terminate in a very substantially inclined end section.

Still another feature of the invention relates to the arrangement of a plurality of sections comprising the bottom of an elevator cup so as to enable the progressive discharge of material off these sections over the outermost section terminating in a discharge edge with a minimum of resistance. 7

Other objects and features of this invention will more fully appear from the following detailed description, taken in connection with the accomcharge of the material from these inclined secpanying drawing, which illustrates a single em- 'bodiment of the invention, and in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary side elevational view partly in section of a conveyor belt with cups embodying this. invention, the belt and cups being L pulley is located at the top or discharge side of the conveyor system. The lower structure of the Q elevator may be of any conventional construction and includes the usual lower structure, as is Well known to those familiar with this type of elevator;

The upper pulley H, as well as a portion 'of the belt Ill traveling thereover, is inclosed in a housing l2 which includes a 'cupinlet side l3 through which the cups move-upwardly, and a cup outlet passageway I 4 for the cups asthey travel downwardly after having discharged their contents into the usual discharge opening I5.

The cups embodying the features of my invention are designated generally by the reference characters IS. The cups all being identical in construction, it follows that a description of one will suffice for all.

Each of these cups, as is evident from Figures 2 and 3, includes a back I! and end or side plates l8-l8 secured to and spaced apart by the back plate l1. In addition to the ,back I! and the ends I8, the cup is provided with a bottom composed of a plurality of sections I9, 20, 2|, and 22. Also, the back I! is suitably secured, as by means of bolts 23, to the conveyor, in a manner well known to those familiar with this art.

My present invention is particularly concerned with the construction and arrangement of the sections or portions comprising the bottom of the cup. It will be perceivedthat the section or portion I9 is disposed at an obtuse angle to the back l'l. From this section extend progressively the other angular sections or portions 20, 2|, and 22. These sections 20, 2|, and 22 are progressively inclined upwardly relative to the side l9 and terminate in a smooth discharge edge 25, over which the granular contents of the cup are adapted to be centrifugally discharged or thrown from the sections I9, 20, 2|, and 22, in the order named. I have in Figure 1 illustrated the progressive distions I9, 20, 2|, and 22, such material being thrown by reason of the high speed of the pulley ll into the discharge opening l5. It is, of course, to be understood that the overhead space in the housing or head l2 must be suificient to permit of the centrifugal discharge of the material to the outlet I5. Moreover, the speed of the pulley l I is such that the discharged material is thrown clear of and over the outlet passage l4 through which the cups travel after they have discharged their contents.

It will be appreciated that by reason of the fact that the section or portion 22 of the bottom of the cup is substantially inclined both outwardly and upwardly relative to the remaining structure of the bottom, there is enabled a much easier and quicker discharge of the contents of the cup. Moreover, the inclination of this section 22 is such that the minimum resistance is presented to the discharge of the material as the cup travels over the discharge are of the pulley II.

I have also found from experience and practice that maximum efiiciency with the type of cup with which this invention is concerned is attained by locating the discharge edge 25 substantially midway of the upper and lower extremities of the cup. This arrangement enables the cup to take up and retain a maximum load consistent with the proper and rapid discharge of the contents.

The section 22 is disposed at an angle approaching 180 relative to the adjoining section 2|, as a consequence of which the granular material is centrifugally urged out of the cup with a minimumamount of resistance being offered thereto by the interior surface of the section 22.

It will, of course, be appreciated that the cup of my invention may be fabricated from suitable sheet metal welded or otherwise secured together. Then, too, the cup, by reason of its simplicity, lends itself to economical manufacture on a large production basis. 'Referring to Figure 2, it is clear that the sections 20, 21, and Rare slightly inclined with respect to each other as the bottom progresses upwardly and each ascending section inclines inwardly with respect to the one below it, so that the discharge takes place along a surface inclined at approximately forty degrees with respect to the back. It will also be observed from Figure 1 that the bucket l9 begins to throw its contents when it ascends to an angle of between forty and forty-five degrees with respect to the vertical axis, and that the bucket is substantially empty when it has descended to an angle of about thirty degrees above the horizontal.

I am aware that many changes may be made and numerous details of construction varied through a wide range without departing from the principles of this invention, and I, therefore, do not purpose that the patent granted hereon be limited otherwise than necessitated by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

An elevator cup for attachment to a conveyor belt bendable over a vertical wheel, said cup including ends, a flat back for attachment to a conveyor belt, and a bottom formed of a plurality of angular-1y disposed flat sections, the innermost section being relatively short and being inclined at an obtuse angle to the back, the other sections being inclined successively upwardly and inwardly at a slight angle to each other, the uppermost section providing a discharge surface disposed at an angle of substantially forty degrees to said back, so that grain normally begins to discharge therefrom when the cup ascends on the belt to a position on the upper side of the Wheel at an angle of approximately fortyfive degrees from the vertical axis of the wheel and the cup is substantially empty when the cup descends to an angle of approximately thirty degrees above the horizontal axis of the wheel.

CARL EDWIN LINDBURG. 

